DENVER—Four years ago, Cecil Sapp found himself in training camp competing against Mike Anderson, Clinton Portis and several others for the tailback job of the Denver Broncos.
This year, Sapp, a fullback, is making another go at tailback.
“When I came to the Broncos they decided to move me to fullback and I accepted it,” Sapp said Wednesday after a mini camp. “My thinking was I’d do whatever it took to get on the field the quickest.”
Tailback is his more natural position, having excelled at it during his collegiate career at Colorado State. He was a self motivator there and ran for 2,482 yards and impressed the Broncos enough to sign him as an undrafted free agent in 2003.
At fullback, Sapp had two carries for 39 yards against Indianapolis last season, as well as two carries for 24 yards against Seattle—his last game of the season. He broke his leg and missed the final four games.
“I’m all right now and I feel strong because of the way I worked out in the offseason,” he said. “Now I can concentrate on learning both positions and focusing again on playing tailback.”
Sapp said he has no doubt he can make the transition back.
He isn’t concerned about competing with a field of backs that include free agent signing Travis Henry or return of Mike Bell. Bell had his moments a year ago.
“I feel my chances are good and will do whatever it takes,” Sapp said
“We will have good competition among the backs,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “Cecil is in the mix.”
One thing that hasn’t changed is the status of free agent acquisition wide receiver Brandon Stokley. The former Indianapolis Colt jogged around the playing fields while the rest of the Broncos stretched and watched from the sidelines when the team ran plays.
“He is looking pretty good,” Shanahan said. “I was thinking about practicing him this week and decided not to.”
Stokley had surgery after the season to repair an Achilles’ tendon that he ruptured last Dec. 14.
“We’re having him do some football related drills,” Shanahan said. “He should be able to go full speed for the next mini camp on July 9 and 10.”
